Choose From Many Types of Coleus

Solenostemon Plants Suitable for Part Shade or Part Sun Gardens

May 16, 2008
Chris Eirschele

Red Kong Coleus Prefers Shady Locations in Pots - Chris Eirschele

Choose the type of coleus that will thrive in part shade or part sun. Whether called Solenostemon or coleus, these plants grow easily indoors or outside in gardens.

Sun and Shade Coleus

It helps to understand the definition of sun, part shade and shade before deciding where to grow coleus. Full sun and part sun plants will receive four to six or eight hours of direct sun. All gardens with westerly exposure are usually included in this group. For indoor gardens, a curtain defusing some light or blinds closed during the hottest part of the day would change the light conditions.

Part shade includes outdoor areas that receive direct morning sun or late afternoon sun. Northern exposures with bright light would be included in this definition. Indoor gardens with windows facing east, south or north with no obstruction would qualify, as well.

Full shade areas receive no direct sun. The only light this garden would receive is reflected off of hard surfaces. For indoor gardens try a north-facing window with no curtain. If no hard surfaces, such as tall buildings, are obstructing the northern exposure shade coleus will thrive.

Indoor gardeners will gauge the light exposure by including assessments of window size, window coverings and distance of the plants from the window. This is standard indoor gardening practice and should be used with creating a coleus garden, too.

Coleus does not thrive in full sun or exposures from a westerly direction during midday. Sun coleus will tolerate morning sun or late afternoon sun. Shade coleus will tolerate part shade or some full shade conditions. Coleus will not do well in dense shade, as in a woodland setting or under a Norway maple tree.

Coleus will not thrive in hot, dry, arid conditions. All coleus require moist, well-draining soil to thrive whether planted in an indoor or outdoor garden.

Solenostemon Cultivar Ideas

There are many Solenostemon cultivar ideas. Some gardeners collect ideas from books written on coleus while others thrill at the arrival of new cultivars at garden centers. Here are just a few to consider for indoors or outside gardens:

Tolerates Shade

S. ‘The Line’ is a tall upright with leaves that are elongated gold color and a midrib line of purple.
S. ‘Fish Net Stockings’ is heavily veined with dark purple on a lime green background.
S. ‘Duckfoot’ refers to the type and is also a cultivar. The name referes to the leaf that is small and shaped like a duck’s foot.
S. ‘Black Dragon’ reaches 12” and has black and red foliage. Indoors it will fill a 6 or 8-inch pot.
S. ‘Kong' series has huge leaves. The series include red, rose and mosaic.

Tolerates Sun

S. ‘India Frills’ grows to 15.” The leaves are small, irregular colored pink, purple and orange splashed on lime green.
S. ‘Alabama Sunset’ is an old favorite. This coleus works well with pink flowers because of the brick red color with thin yellow margins.
S. ‘Solar Sunrise’ grows 18-24” tall. The leaves are bright green, burgundy and light yellow.
S. ‘Plum Parfait’ is heat tolerant. The purplish plum colored leaves are ruffled and have pink margins.

Coleus is a low maintenance plant for indoor and outdoor gardeners. Although the scientific name of coleus was changed to Solenostemon, gardeners will find plant sellers continue to refer to the plant as coleus.

Permission received for all photos used in this article.